The Kingdoms of Central and South Africa (699-705)

The Kingdom of Kongo
Emerged in the 14th century.
The Portuguese had a close relationship with the kings of Kongo. (political and diplomatic)
The Kings of Kongo became Christians because they want to establish a closer commercial relation with the Portuguese merchants and the Portuguese monarchy.
The king Nzinga Mbenba of Kongo aka King Afonso I became a strong Roman Catholic and he wanted to convert all of his e subjects to Christianity.
The Kongo capital of Mbanza had a ton of churches and it was referred to the "Kongo of the Bell".

The Slave Raiding in Kongo
The relationship with the Portuguese was good and bad.
The Portuguese wanted high value merchandise.
They embarked on slaving expeditions.
The local authorities gave the Portuguese weapons in exchange for slaves.
The Portuguese didn't have a strong relationship with Kongo.
1665 Portuguese colonists went to war with Kongo.
By the 18th century the Kongo kingdom had disintegrated.

The Kingdom of Ndongo
Portuguese developed a slave with the kingdom of Ndongo. (ngola)
Ndongo became a basis of wealth.

Queen Nzingaexternal image nzinga.jpg
She was the queen of Angola.
During the war she dressed as a male warrior and she lead the troops in battle.
She wanted to be referred as a king not a queen.
She was doing this so she could take the Portuguese away from her land, then the Dutch, and then create a central African empire to embrace the lover Congo basin.

The Portuguese Colony of Angola
The Queen Nzinga was unable to take over the forces of Ndongo.
She tried to obstruct Portuguese from extending their efforts, but because of their wealth and power, they were able to make political divisions.
Nzinga died and the Portuguese had less resistance.
They extended their control over Angola.
Angola was the first European colony in sub-Saharan Africa.

Regional Kingdoms in South Africa
Regional kingdoms took over political affairs.
Due to the influence of trade, kingdoms began to emerge in the 11th century.
The cheiftains extended their authority, enhanced their power, and increased their wealth by controlling local commerce.
The city of Great Zimabawe took over the gold-bearing plain inbetween the Limpopo and Zambesi rivers.

European Arrival in South Africa
Europeans made alliances with the local people.
They built a trading post at Cape Town 1652 with Dutch mariners.
Because they had firearms they got land and commandeered Khoikhoi.
The conquests of the British and Dutch colonies became the most properous possessions in the sub-Saharan Africa.

Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa
Africans worshipped 1 supreme God.
They also worshipped features such as mountains, water, forests etc.
Also worshipped the "living dead"- their ancestors. The Africans believed they roamed the earth and gave those descendants rewards that were leading a good life.
Islam was most popular in the commercial areas of west Africa.
Timbuktu had 180 schools that taught the Quran.

The Fulani and Islam
Fulani- people that lived off the land, they herded cattle in the savannas.
Late 17th century- The Fulanis' moved to cities and were very strict Islams.
They founded powerful states: Guinea, Senegal, Mali, and northern Nigeria.
They established schools to teach the Quran in areas near them.

Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Portugese community supported priest that introduced Roman Catholic Christianity to central Africa.
Africans thought of the Chrisitan missionares as magicians. The Africans wore crosses to ward off danger from angry spirits.
external image saintteresaofavila.jpg
The Antonian Movement
In Kongo the Antonian movement suggested that Jesus was African, and that heaven was for Africans.
Was in the early 18th century- when the Kongolese monarchy faced challenges.
Dona Beatriz led this movement. She was burned at the stake for heresy.

American Food Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

Mid 16th century- American crops arrived on Portugese ships.
Most important American crop: manioc because it thrived in tropical soil, and because you get a lot of it.

Population Growth

1500- 34 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa
1700- 55 million people
1800- 60 million
Most of this growth was because of an involuntarily, forced migration.